[HPforGrownups] Re: House Elves...

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 16993

meboriqua at aol.com wrote:

> I still agree with you, Scott.  House Elves seem to be quite able to
> take care of themselves - it is the wizard world that makes it
> difficult for them.

"seem." We know almost no details about house elves. And what exactly is
the wizarding world making difficult for them? I'm not sure of what
you're saying.

>  Remember Dobby saying how hard it was to get work
> once he had been freed (GoF)?

Only because he wanted to be paid. Which is, so far as we've seen, a
groundbreaking innovation.

> Also, if it so natural for elves to serve wizards, then why is it so
> hard for elves to leave the wizards they serve?

Because it's natural for elves to serve wizards. It's hard to go against
your nature.

>  Dobby couldn't even get away on his own - in the end,
> Harry was the one who freed him.  Why cast a spell to keep someone
> bound to you if they want to serve you in the first place?

Who said the wizards cast the binding spell? That's another thing we
don't know. It may be something in the makeup of the elf that does the
binding. I'm not saying the wizards *didn't,* I'm just saying that we
all seem to be making some great big assumptions about the relationship,
on very scanty detail.

--Amanda


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